美文欣赏可以培养一个人的素养，让你心中有一种正确而优雅的为人处世观。下面是整理的经典的英语优秀美文10篇，希望可以启发、帮助到大家。
学校 The College
How can I ever forget the beautiful campus in Africa?
那儿处处是碧绿的芳草，绿草中铺着洁白的、笔直的石路。路两旁种的那些树分明是一品红，然而原该为大红色的排列为环状的叶，却变为柔媚的粉红，还有着淡绿色的边儿。我常在这条长长的石径上散步。走着走着，来到一座宽阔的台子上，站在这里可以看到迷人的晚霞与夕照，偶然也能看到冒着浓烟呜呜南去的列车。件转身往回走，不远便会来到实验室和图书馆。这儿宽大的落地窗软帘垂地。窗外的木棉树上开着耀眼的红花。再往前走便是餐厅了，那儿有一株美丽的树，开着雪一样白的花儿。那花儿开得轻柔而又炯娜，一朵朵地连成一片，从远处看去，美得像新嫁娘雪白的头纱。后来我才知道这就是我在书上读到那么多次的曼陀罗。
The grounds were covered with dark green grass through which stretched a straight whitestone path .On both sides of the path were planted what I believed to be poinsettias. Now theflowers were surrounded by pinkish leaves instead of bright red ones as they should have with light green edges，the leaves looked delicate and charming. Along the long pathI often took a stroll which would take me to a wide terrace，where 1 could watch theenchanting glow of sunset，and occasionally catch the sight of a train pulling and hooting onits way southward. On my way back I would pass by the laboratory and library building whoselarge French windows had soft curtains let fall to the floor. Just outside the windows kapokflowers glowed red in full bloom. A short way off stood the dining hall，where I found a treehearing snore-white blossoms so graceful and soft to the touch，Viewed together from thedistance, they were as beautiful as a bridal veil. Later I learned that it was a tree called daturawhich I had so often read about in hooks.
学校的中心地带是个扇形的喷水泉，中间很艺术地摆着些中国式的太湖石。这是新建的。
In the centre of the campus was a newly-built fan-shaped fountain. A number of Chinese taihurocks were arranged in it with a touch of artistry. And there was a story behind it.
在我们中国教师住的院子里，有一个跟这模式一样的喷水泉，不过比这要小得多，像个盆景似的，那是早来这儿的老师利用业余时间建的。他们在池中放了些水草和金鱼，可能是为了抒发对祖国的怀念之情吧，还在太湖石上用秀丽的隶书字体刻了“二泉映月”四个红字，似乎这么一来，西湖便在他们的怀抱之中了，故乡的月便也在向着这些游子微笑了。
In the courtyard of the house where Chinese teachers were living，there was also a similar butmuch smaller fountain looking like potted landscape. It was built by the Chinese teachers whohad come earlier in their spare time. They had graced it with water plants and goldfish .Perhapsout of a yearning for their homeland，they had even engraved on a taihu rock four Chinesecharacters:“Er Quan Ying Yue’meaning“two springs reflecting the moonlight.”These characterswere painted red and written in an ancient calligraphic style. The homesick Chinese teachersseemed to feel that at the sight of these characters，they could by a flight of the imaginationbring to their presence a native moon smiling beaming over the West Lake.
一天，学校的校长来到中国教师的住所。他对这个喷水池赞不绝口，定要中国教师为学校也设计一个跟这一样的喷水池，建在校园的中央。于是在校园里，在绿茸茸的芳草和艳丽的花朵之间又加上了一个中国色彩的喷水池，在阳光的辉照下，喷射着亮晶晶的水珠儿。
One day the president of the college carne to visit the Chinese teachers. Delighted by thebeauty of their fountain he asked them to design another one for the college. Thus in thecentre of the campus, in a field of green grass and colourful flowers appeared a new Chinesefountain spurting out water drops glistening in the sunlight.
It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career. They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of business education. But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, the boy who has the genius of the future partner in him will not hesitate to try his hand at the broom. It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.
Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is “aim high”。 I would not give a fig for the young man who does not already see himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest content for a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager in any concern, no matter how extensive. Say to yourself, “My place is at the top.” Be king in your dreams.
And here is the prime condition of success, the great secret: concentrate your energy, thought, and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun in one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the most about it.
The concerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which means that they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, or that, or the other, here there, and everywhere. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” is all wrong. I tell you to “put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket.” Look round you and take notice, men who do that not often fail. It is easy to watch and carry the one basket. It is trying to carry too many baskets that breaks most eggs in this country. He who carries three baskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up. One fault of the American businessman is lack of concentration.
To summarize what I have said: aim for the highest; never enter a bar room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, for as Emerson says, “no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves.”
译文：成功之道
年轻人创业之初，应该从最底层干起，这是件好事。匹兹保有很多商业巨头，在他们创业之初，都肩负过“重任”：他们以扫帚相伴，以打扫办公室的方式度过了他们商业生涯中最初的时光。我注意到我们现在办公室里都有工友，于是年轻人就不幸错过了商业教育中这个有益的环节。如果碰巧哪天上午专职扫地的工友没有来，某个具有未来合伙人气质的年轻人会毫不犹豫地试着拿起扫帚。在必要时新来的员工扫扫地也无妨，不会因为而有什么损失。我自己就曾经扫过地。
假如你已经被录用，并且有了一个良好的开端，我对你的建议是：要志存高远。一个年轻人，如果不把自己想象成一家大公司未来的老板或者是合伙人，那我会对他不屑一顾。不论职位有多高，你的内心都不要满足于做一个总管，领班或者总经理。要对自己说：我要迈向顶尖！要做就做你梦想中的国王！
成功的首要条件和最大秘诀就是：把你的精力，思想和资本全都集中在你的事业上。一旦开始从事某种职业，就要下定决心在那一领域闯出一片天地来；做这一行的领导人物，采纳每一点改进之心，采用最优良的设备，对专业知识熟稔于心。
一些公司的失败就在于他们分散了资金，因为这就意味着分散了他们的精力。他们向这方面投资，又向那方面投资；在这里投资，在那里投资，到处都投资。“不要把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里”的说法大错特错。我要对你说：“把所有的鸡蛋都放在一个篮子里，然后小心地看好那个篮子。”看看你周围，你会注意到：这么做的人其实很少失败。看管和携带一个篮子并不太难。人们总是试图提很多篮子，所以才打破这个国家的大部分鸡蛋。提三个篮子的人，必须把一个顶在头上，而这个篮子很可能倒下来，把他自己绊倒。美国商人的一个缺点就是不够专注。
把我的话归纳一下：要志存高远；不要出入酒吧；要滴酒不沾，或要喝也只在用餐时喝少许；不要做投机买卖；不要寅吃卯粮；要把公司的利益当作自己的利益；取消订货的目的永远是为了挽救货主；要专注；要把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里，然后小心地看好它；要量入为出；最后，要有耐心，正如名人所言，“谁都无法阻止你最终成功，除非你自己承认自己失败。”
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAILURE
Robert H. Schuller
Failure doesn t mean you are a failure,
It does mean you haven t succeeded yet.
Failure doesn t mean you have accomplished nothing,
It does mean you have learned something.
Failure doesn t mean you have been a fool,
It does mean you had a lot of faith.
Failure doesn t mean you ve been disgraced,
It does mean you were willing to try.
Failure doesn t mean you don t have it,
It does mean you have to do something in a different way.
Failure doesn t mean you are inferior,
It does mean you are not perfect.
Failure doesn t mean you ve wasted your life,
It does mean you have a reason to start afresh.
Failure doesn t mean you should give up,
It does mean you must try harder.
Failure doesn t mean you ll never make it,
It does mean it will take a little longer.
Failure doesn t mean God has abandoned you,
It does mean God has a better idea.
失败的意义
失败并不代表你是个失败者，
它只表明你尚未成功。
失败并不代表你一无所获，
它只表明你吸取了一次教训。
失败并不代表你很愚蠢，
它只表明你信心百倍。
失败并不代表你无脸见人，
它只表明你百折不回。
失败并不代表你工夫白费，
它只表明你的做事方法尚待改进。
失败并不代表你低人一等。
它只表明你并非完人。
失败并不代表你浪费生命，
它只表明你有理由重新开始。
失败并不代表你应该放弃，
它只表明你要加倍努力。
失败并不代表成功永不属于你，
它只表明你要付出更多的时间。
失败并不代表上帝已经抛弃你，
它只表明上帝还有更好的主意。
1、These words help me remember why embracing my essence is always the best thing to do. Perhaps this may resonate with where you are.
这些话让我想起欣然接受自己的本质始终是上策的原因。或许这也会与你产生共鸣。
2、All too often, women are in a hurry. We want to hurry up and find THE GUY, get married, have babies, buy a house, etc. We don't enjoy the seasons of life we are in.
女人总是生活得匆匆忙忙。我们想要赶快找到自己的梦中情人、结婚成家、生孩子、买房子等等等等，我们从未享受过自己生活的四季变迁。
3、I am taking this time to reflect on my single days in writing a letter to my single self. I want to remind her of a few things.
此刻，我想给自己写一封信，反思一下自己单身期间的生活状况，有几件事我想要提醒她。
4、So it's a Monday night, you have your wine, Twitter is open and you are live-tweeting The Bachelor thinking to yourself, "Where is my rose" Let me tell you, Neely, once you are married, these Bachelor nights will not look much different. Only instead of wine, you'll be eating dinner with your husband, still live-tweeting.
今天是周一，晚上，你喝着红酒，开着推特，你一边看着《亿万未婚夫》一边用推特吐槽，心里想着，“我的王子会在哪儿呢？”让我告诉你吧，一旦你结婚了，那些看《亿万未婚夫》的夜晚也不会有什么不同，不过你不是在喝红酒，而是和你的丈夫一起吃着晚餐，手里还是在刷推特在线吐槽。
5、Anyway, Single Neely, enjoy this time. Not because it's better than marriage — trust me, marriage is better. But enjoy it because you should be appreciating time with yourself and learning who you are. Go out with your friends more. Do all the happy hours, drink all the wines, and flirt with the cute waiter. Why Because WHY NOT!
单身的妮莉，无论如何，请享受这一刻。不是因为单身比婚后生活好——相信我，婚后生活更幸福。你要享受这段时间的原因是，你应该珍惜独处的时间，并借此机会更了解自己，多和朋友们聚聚，多做让你开心的事情，多去喝喝红酒，跟可爱的服务生调情，为什么要这样做？因为你为什么不这样做呢？
6、When that guy ghosts you after three great dates, it stings. You think, What did I do wrong Trust me — it's him. He has issues that he will feel the need to share with you three years later. Sigh. Men.
当一个男人跟你一起度过了三次绝妙的约会，却甩了你，这确实很糟糕，你会想，我做错了什么？相信我——是他有问题，他心里有一些缺陷，他觉得自己应该在三年之后再和你分享他的故事。哎，男人就是这样！
7、When you and He Who Shall Not Be Named go back and forth, up and down, and hot and cold, just shake your head, nod and smile and know that "This too shall pass." You'll end it when you've REALLY had enough, and thank God you did.
当你和某某人在一起经历了无数感情波折、感情颠簸、热战冷战，你就摇摇头，给自己一个微笑，告诉自己，“这些都会过去的。”当你觉得自己真的受够了，你就能够放手了，谢天谢地你真的做到了。
犬的礼赞A tribute to the dog
The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.
在这个世界上，一个人的好友可能与他作对，变成敌人；他用慈爱培养长大的儿女可能变得不忠不孝；那些我们感觉最亲切和亲密的人，那些我们用全部幸福与名誉痴信的人，都可能会弃忠诚而叛逆。一个人所拥有的金钱可能会失去，可能在最需要它的时候它却插翅飞走；一个人的声誉也许会断送在考虑欠妥的一瞬间；那些会在我们成功时来屈膝奉承的人，很可能就是当失败的阴云笼罩在我们头上时第一个投掷阴毒之石的人。
The one absolute, unselfish friend a man may have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the sores and wounds that come in the encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.
在这个自私的世界上，一个人唯一毫不自私的朋友、唯一不抛弃他的朋友、唯一不忘恩负义的朋友，就是他的狗。不问主人是贫穷或富贵、健康或病弱，爱犬都会守在主人的身旁；只要能靠近主人，即使地面冰冷坚硬、寒风凛冽、大雪纷飞，爱犬也会全然不顾地躺在主人身边；哪怕主人无食喂养，爱犬仍会舔着主人的手和主人手上因抵御这个冷酷的世界所受的创伤。纵然主人是乞丐，爱犬也会像守护王子一样地伴随左右。当主人所有的朋友都掉头离去，爱犬却义无反顾。当主人的财富消失、声誉扫地时，爱犬对主人的爱仍如天空运行不息的太阳一样，永恒不变。
If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes and death takes its master in its embrace and the body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there, by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness.
假如因命运的捉弄，主人变成了一个无家可归的流浪者，这只忠诚的犬只求陪伴主人，有难同当，对抗敌人，此外毫无奢求。肖万物的结局来临，死神夺去了主人的生命、尸体埋葬在寒冷的地下时，即使所有的亲朋好友都已各奔前程，而这只高贵的犬却会独自守卫在墓旁，它仰首于两足之间，眼睛罩虽然充满悲伤，却仍然机警地护卫着墓地，忠贞不渝，直到死亡……
Many people start a career with a dream, and then get busy forgetting it.
很多人一开始为了梦想而忙，后来忙得忘了梦想。
A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short.
幸福的婚姻，是一次让人意犹未尽的长谈。
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful.
千万不要错过欣赏美的机会
The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.
如果你明确自己的方向，世界也会为你让路
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.
永远面向阳光，这样你就看不见阴影了。
Good friends don’t let you do stupid things alone.
好朋友不会让你独自犯傻，他们会陪你一起二。
Well is it known that ambition can creep as well as soar.
众所周知，胸有大志者能屈能伸。
I only wish to face the sea, with spring flowers blossoming.
我只愿面朝大海，春暖花开。
Such kindness as young grass receives from the warm sun can’t be repaid.
谁言寸草心，报得三春晖？
You‘ve got a smile that could light up this whole city.
你的笑容，点亮了整座城市。
To a wise man one word is enough.
智者无须多言。
To err is human, to forgive, divine.
人孰无过？心存宽恕，就是圣洁。
Happiness takes no account of time. Cherish it!
幸福年华似流水。且行且珍惜！
Good temper is like a sunny day; it sheds its brightness everywhere.
好性情犹如艳阳天，到处散播光明。
Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.
痛苦与欢乐犹如光明与黑暗，彼此交错而行。
We always have time enough, if we will but use it alright.
善用时间，何愁时间不够用？
Truth needs no colour; beauty, no pencil.---Shakespeare
真理不需色彩，美丽无需涂饰。——莎士比亚
You are beautiful, but that is not why I love you.
你如此美丽，但我并非因此而爱你。
A book is a gift you can open again and again.
书籍是一件可以一次又一次打开的礼物。
Love understands love; it needs no talk.
相爱时心有灵犀，无需多语。
Our eyes do not show a lack of beauty, but a lack of observation.
世上不是缺少美，而是缺少发现美的眼睛。
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.
船泊港湾固然安全，但这不是造船的初衷。
Nothing happens unless first a dream.
一切始于梦想。
Let life be beautiful like summer flowers and death like autumn leaves.
愿生如夏花之绚烂，死如秋叶之静美。
I came into this world to see the sunlight, the skyline’s sapphire glow.
我来到这个世界，为了看看阳光和蓝色地平线。
After all, tomorrow is another day.
不管怎样，明天又是全新的一天。
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
人应该生活，而不仅仅是生存。
The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills.
智者乐水，仁者乐山。
Chance favors only the prepared mind.
机会只垂青于有准备的人。
No one can defeat us unless we first defeat ourselves.
没有人可以击倒我们除非我们先击倒自己。
Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.
风险来自于不知道你在做什么。
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
千里之行，始于足下。
Happiness consists in contentment.
知足常乐。
He is truly happy who makes others happy.
真正幸福的是使他人幸福的人。
He that lies down with dogs must rise up with fleas.
近朱者赤，近墨者黑。
Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us.
我们面对生命的态度，决定生命面对我们的态度。
Govern your thoughts when alone, and your tongue when in company.
一人独处慎于思，与人相处慎于言。
Fortune smiles upon the brave and frowns upon the coward.
幸运喜欢勇敢的人，而不喜欢怯懦的人。
Faith will move mountains.
精诚所至，金石为开。
Every man is the master of his own fortune.
每个人都是他自己的命运的主宰。
Every cloud has a silver lining.
山穷水尽疑无路，柳暗花明又一村
Early start makes easy stages.
早开始是成功的保证。
Care and diligence bring luck.
谨慎和勤奋，带来好运气。
By falling we learn to go safely.
吃一堑，长一智。
Difficulties vanish when faced boldly.
大胆面对困难，困难就消失了。
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
始于所立，用你所有，做你所能。
Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; they are but the instruments of the wise.
弱者困于环境，智者利用环境。
Opportunities are not offered. They must be wrested and worked for. And this calls for perseverance and courage.
机会不能唾手可得，需经由争取及努力才可得到，而这需要毅力及勇气。
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
在一个时时想把你变为另一个人的世界里，做你自己是最大的成就。
A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
有智慧的人创造的机会比遇到的多。
Fortune does favor the bold and you'll never know what you're capable of if you don't try. 运气的确是眷顾有勇气的人，你如果不尝试，你永远不知道你能完成什么
If you want more, you have to require more from yourself.
如果你想要更多，你得对自己要求更多。
Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having sown. 没有先付出就想要得到，犹如没有播种就想要收割般徒劳。
If you care about what others think of you, then you will always be their slave.
总在乎其他人怎么看你，那你会一直是他人的奴隶。
Confidence of success is almost success.
对成功抱有信心，就近乎成功。
In the world of love, no one is indebted to others, while many people don't know how to cherish others.
在爱的世界里，没有谁对不起谁，只有谁不懂得珍惜谁。
A true friend is known in the day of adversity.
疾风知劲草，患难知友情。
Everything is going on, but don't give up trying.
万事随缘，但不要放弃努力。
True Strength is being able to hold it together when everyone is expecting you to fall apart.
真正的坚强是当所有的人都希望你崩溃的时候，你还可以振作。
Don't judge my path, if you haven't walked my journey.
若你没有经历过我的旅程，就不要来批判我走的道路。
A silent tongue and true heart are the most admirable things on earth.
缄默的嘴，真诚的心，是世界上最令人赞美的东西。
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
未来属于那些相信他们梦想之美的人。
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.
永远做一流的自己，而不做二流的别人。
An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.
乐观的人在灾难中看到希望；悲观的人在希望中看到灾难。
The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.
地球是圆的，而看似像终点的地方可能也只是起点。
Knowing yourself is the height of wisdom.
了解自己是大智慧。
Someone once told me that never underestimate anyone who doesn't lose temper.
有人曾经对我说：永远不要小看一个不发脾气的人。
This kind of people usually possess great capacity.
这样的人通常深不可测。
They can be really resourceful friends.
他们可以成为你长袖善舞的朋友。
And they can be really fierce enemies.
也可以成为你可怕的敌人。
Humans are emotional animals.
人类是一种感情动物。
It's our nature to have temper.
脾气是我们的天性。
And it's totally natural to lose it when something or somebody irritates us.
而当有什么激怒我们的时候，发脾气也是完全自然的事情。
But there are people who don't.
但是，就是有些人能做到不发。
And that's a fearsome skill.
这真的是一种令人生畏的技能。
The more incompetent a person is, the easier he is to get angry.
一个人越是无能，就越是容易动怒。
The stronger a person is, the less you see him throw away his calmness.
而一个人越是强大，你就越少能看到他失控。
Can you hold your temper?
你能管住自己的脾气吗？
If you want to achieve great things. Practice to do so.
如果你希望做成大事，就练习这么做吧。
In the United States,people go through kindergarten for two to three years,grade one to five in elementaryschool,six to eight in middle school,and nine to twelve in high school.Many people also go to college for four years.
在美国，人们上两年到三年的幼稚园，小学是从一到五年级，六到八年级是初中，九到十二年级是高中。很多也也会再用四年的时间去上大学（学院）。
For high school students who want to get into a good college,they must work hard on their grades and also do well on national aptitude test like the SAT or ACT,because that would improve the students' chances of getting accepted by the colleges.
对于想上好大学的高中生来说，为了拿到好的成绩，他们必须非常用功；而且要才好如SAT或ACT这种全国性的才能（能力倾向）测验，因为这些（好的SAT或ACT成绩）可以增加学生样被大学录取的机会。
Grades are usually determined by tests and are given a few times during a semester to give students an idea of what had been taught and what they should know.Final exams are given at the end ofa semester;they cover everything the students should have learned during the entire semester.
（课业）成绩通常是通过测验和考试来决定的。一个学期中会有几次测验，目的是为了让学生对于（老师）所教的是些什么和自己应该学到什么有个概念。学期的最后会有个期末考试，这考试包含了学生在整个学期中应该学到的所有内容。
The Olympics represents the noble ideal of sports overcoming the barriers of politics withchampion athletes of all nations gathering in the spirit of sportsmanship. However, the stakesgo beyond who wins the gold medal. Shortly after each competition, nations begin to vieafresh for the bid to host the next game. Winning the vote to host is not merely an honor, itis a political conquest in global recognition. It also spins revenue from the influx of tourists,participants and Olympic related paraphernalia.
However, all that glitters is not gold. For some residents of Beijing, the site of Olympic 2008,the impact of winning the bid cuts deep and far into their personal lives. The capital isexpecting to pour billions of dollars into sports facilities and related upgrades such as roads,public transport, landscaping and sanitation. For the bustling city of bicycles and traffic jamstucked among imperial relics, the Olympics is an opportunity for urban renewal.
Yet for those within the areas, something must give way to make room for the model OlympicVillage.
Decades of family homes will be uprooted and dispersed among apartments on the outskirtsof the city. Although modern plumbing and sanitation will replace chamber pots, the move isan upheaval of a community and its way of life and social dynamics. It will be interesting tofollow up on those and study the effects ofthe transplant.
The Olympics upgrades are not disposable stage props that can be easily discarded after theshow. Experts are afraid that without the heartbeat of ordinary people dwelling in the ancientcity, the high tech Olympic City would become culturally dry. Careful urban planning andstringent regulations such as building restrictions can preserve the impression of an intactneighborhood. Nevertheless, without the residents, aesthetic is lost and only the facaderemains, waiting to be filled by tourists and businesses.
Nonetheless who can begrudge anyone a more comfortable living environment? Even withoutthe Olympics, can the drumbeat of modernization be stopped? And whether the changes arefor better or worse, who should presume to judge such things other than those whose livesbear the brunt of the impact?
奥运会所代表的崇高理想，就是各国的运动选手用运动员精神超越政治障碍聚集在一起。可是，其利害关系不仅在于谁获得金牌。每一届奥运会后不久，各国又重新开始争夺下一届奥运会的主办权。获得主办权不仅仅是一种荣誉，也代表着在政治上被全球认同的胜利。此外，还可以通过接踵而来的游客、参赛者和和奥运会有关的设备迅速增加税收。
然而，我们不能只看其表面(该句亦可直译为"闪闪发光的未必都是金子”)。对于北京2008年奥运会场地的那些居民来说，获得主办权对他们生活的影响是深远的。首都预计要在运动设施及其相关的改进，如道路、公共交通、环境景观和公共卫生等方面投入数十亿美元。对于其皇家遗址中到处存放自行车、交通拥堵的繁忙城市，奥运会是一次都市翻新的机会。可是对于那些住在规划用地的人而言，他们必须放弃一些东西来为—个现代化的奥运村腾地儿。
几十年的家园被连根拔起，而被分散到城市郊区的公寓。虽然现代化的管道和卫生设备将取代便盆，但是迁移对一个社区及其生活方式和社会变迁过程仍然是一个大变动。追踪这些人并研究迁移给他们带来的影响将是很有意义的。
为奥运会所做的改进工程，并非是戏剧演出结束后轻易就可以丢弃的舞台小道具。专家们担心在这座古城中缺乏了普通 居民的声迹，高科技的奥运城会在文化上几近枯竭。即使细心的城市规划和严厉的法规，例如建筑管制可以保留原封不动的社区外观，然而没有了居民，美感仍会失落，而只留下空壳，等待游客和商业的填充。
不过，谁能妒忌一些人有较舒适的居住环境呢？即使没有奥运会，现代化的鼓点声是否能被阻挡？而且社会变迁的好与坏，除了那些深受其影响的人以外，还有谁能擅自判断呢？
Two Truths to Live by
人生的两条真理
The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go. For life is paradox: it enjoins us to cling to its many gifts even while it ordains their eventual relinquishment. The rabbis of Old put it this way:" A man comes to this world with his fist clenched, but when he dies, his hand is open.
生活的艺术是要懂得何时紧紧抓住，何时学会放弃。因为人生就是一对矛盾，它促使我们牢牢抓住人生的很多赐予，但同时又注定了我们对这些给予最终的放弃。老一辈犹太学者是这样说的：人来到这个世界的时候拳头是紧握的，而当离开的时候，手却是松开的。
Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is wondrous, and full of a beauty that breaks through every pore of God’s own earth. We know that this is so, but all too often we recognize this truth only in our backward glance when we remember what it was and then suddenly realize that it is no more.
当然，我们应该仅仅抓住生活，因为生活是神奇的，是充满着美的——上帝创造的大地的每一个空间都充斥着至美。我们都知道这点，但我们却常常在回首往事之时才明白这个道理，然后突然意识到逝去的时光已经一去不复返了。
We remember a beauty that faded, a love that waned. But we remember with far greater pain that we did not see that beauty when it flowered, that we failed to respond with love when it was tendered.
我们追忆逝去的美丽，残缺的爱情，但是更令人痛心的回忆是当繁花盛开之时错过了欣赏它的美丽；当爱情眷顾之时却未能做出回应。
This not an easy lesson to learn, especially when we are young and think that the world is ours to command, that whatever we desire with the full force of our passionate being can, nay, ill, be ours.
学会(珍爱美好的事物)是不容易做到的。尤其是我们年轻时，认为世界是由我们掌握的，只要我们自己满腔热情，全力以赴的去追求，我们想要的东西就能够——不，是一定能够得到。
But then life moves along to confront us with realities, and slowly but surely this second truth dawns upon us. At every stage of life we sustain losses—and grow in the process.And ultimately, as the parable of the open and closed hand suggests, we must confront the inevitability of our own demise, losing ourselves as it were, all that we were or dreamed to be.
随着我们的成长，生活使我们不得不面对现实，而第二种真理逐渐被我们所感知，所理解。 在人生的每一个阶段，我们都要承受损失，在这个过程中我们慢慢的长大。 最终，正如松手和握拳的比喻那样：我们自己也得走向不可抗拒的死亡，失去了原有的自我，失去了以往的或梦想过的一切。
The insight gleaned from that experience is really as commonplace as was the experience itself: life’s gifts are precious--but we are too heedless of them.
我们在阅历中所积累起来的洞察力就像我们的经历本身一样的平凡生活的赐予是可贵的，可是我们却常常忽视了它们的存在。
Here then is the first pile of life's paradoxical demands on us: Never too busy for the wonder and the awe of life. Be reverent before each dawning day. Embrace each hour. Seize each golden minute.
生命中有太多似非而是的矛盾，以下是第一种矛盾给我们的启迪：不要过于忙碌而忽略领悟生命的神奇，失掉对生命的敬畏。在破晓时分怀抱虔诚心情迎接每一天，拥抱每一个时辰，把握好黄金般的每一分钟。
Hold fast to life... but not so fast that you cannot let go. This is the second side of life's coin, the opposite pole of its paradox: we must accept our losses, and learn how to let go.
紧紧抓住生命但是不要过于执着而不懂得放手。这是生命之道的另一个层面，矛盾的另一极：我们必须接受失去，并且学会放弃。